The sporting life at Enterprise Awards

The cream of Westmeath business was out in force for the annual County Enterprise Awards last week, and it was a passion for hurling which paid off as a Monilea sporting goods company walked away with the top prize.Perhaps the most popular winner yet in the Westmeath Business ?Oscars?, Kelmsworth Ltd, had been nominated twice before at these awards, so it was a case of third time lucky for its owners. Peter and Concepta Curran, whose company employs 11 full time staff in rural North Westmeath. They accepted their award to a rapturous outpouring of goodwill at the glittering awards ceremony, which was held in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Friday evening last.The competition is part of the National Enterprise Awards, organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards, to give recognition to the contribution of small enterprises to the national economy. Peter will now go on to represent Westmeath in the regional competition which will take place in October. Successful regional winners will go on to the national final to be held on November 6th at the State apartments in Dublin Castle, and then the Irish winner will go forward to a European competition. Westmeath has great form at this event, as recording studio Grouse Lodge went all the way a couple of years ago.Kelmsworth Ltd was set up in 1984 by Peter and his wife, Concepta. The business has developed a number of patented indoor and outdoor hurls and sliotars. There isn?t a playing pitch in Ireland which has not been graced by one of Peter?s hurleys, and their international profile is growing too. The business also produces an array of sporting goods, lead dressers which are exported to three distributors throughout the U.K., Ireland and South Africa. The company has grown rapidly over the past three years, expanding its capacity, range of customers and most importantly, its staff.Speaking to the Examiner after the ceremony, the normally lucid and candid Peter was rendered quite speechless. However, when he drew breath, he remembered humble beginnings and admitted he never saw this day coming.?Today was another challenge, and I always like a challenge - life is full of challenges! But I never expected to be standing here today with the top prize, it?s a great feeling.?Days on a podium were not part of the original dream for the hurling mad entrepreneur, who was a regular on the Westmeath senior hurling team back in the 1980s. ?We started the business purely as a way of making a living,? he recalled. ?For me it was the only way of providing for my family.? He admitted that whilst it was a struggle for some years, he never thought of giving up - the perfect advice for any budding entrepreneurs out there.He paid tribute to his wife and family, his employees, his customers and, most importantly, to the Westmeath County Enterprise Board.?A business would not exist without its loyal customers, and thankfully we have those. But without the County Enterprise Board and their help over the years I don?t know where we?d be today. They always made us feel welcome to approach them.?Peter?s products are now enjoyed all over the world. He laughs that he often gets requests from the most unusual places and he is more than happy to have his hurling products shipped to every corner of the globe.?There?s an Irishman who wants to play hurling stuck in every country in the world!? he claimed, recalling a recent request for equipment from a team of ex-pats in Moscow.But what gives him the most pleasure is the simple sight of people enjoying themselves on a playing pitch. ?I never lose sight of the fact that what we do is for the pleasure and enjoyment it gives to people. That?s what drives me as a businessman.?CongratulationsIn congratulating the winner, Christine Charlton, CEO, Westmeath County Enterprise Board outlined the excellent record which Westmeath entrepreneurs have had to date in the National Enterprise Awards.In 2003, Westmeath County Winner, Grouse Lodge Recording Studio Ltd., Rosemount won 1st place at the coveted National Enterprise Awards and went on to win joint first place the World Young Business Achievers Awards in Bulgaria in 2004. Christine wished Kelmsworth good luck at the National finals and thanked all finalists involved in this year?s competition for taking the time to make their applicants and receive the judges.She also noted with sadness the increasing amount of closures of family businesses throughout the county adding people should be mindful that small, family run businesses are the backbone of the the economy in small communities and towns.The Runner Up award in this year?s competition went to Athlone based company Spectrum Signs. The company, led by promoters, Paul and Rosie King, produces a range of signage, window graphics, display system, embroidered work and sportswear, vehicle graphics, shop fronts, screen-printing, and advertising hoardings. Spectrum Signs offers a one stop shop services to businesses for all their printing, design and graphics needs.T.J. Doyle Fitted Kitchens scooped third place. Based in Baylin, Athlone T. J. Doyle fitted kitchens manufacture all types of kitchens, wardrobes and fitted furniture. The kitchens are produced to a high quality and are custom made in a variety of woods.Also based in Athlone, the winner of the coveted Woman in Business award was Liz Gilhooly. This award is presented to mark the achievements of Women in Business in Westmeath. The winning entry, the Kitchen of Liz Gilhooly, was started in 1994. The kitchen serves up home baked breads, cakes and preserves. The business uses high quality ingredients and says the success of the business is attributed to using four basic quality ingredients ? flour, sugar, margarine and whole eggs. The product range can be adapted to suit all dietary needs e.g. Coeliac and Diabetes.Seven finalists were up for consideration at the awards ceremony, which was hosted by TV 3s? Alan Cantwell. They were: Aroma flex Universal Reflexology Academy (A.U.R.A.), Mullingar which was set up by Britta Stewart Dolan; Kelmsworth Ltd, Monilea; Medivac Safety Services Ltd, Athlone; Midland School of Childcare Ltd, Mullingar; Spectrum Signs, Athlone; T.J. Doyle Fitted Kitchens, Athlone; The Kitchen of Liz Gilhooly, AthloneAll the winners received cash prizes, Celtic Roots presentation pieces and the winning company, Kelmsworth Ltd will also receive a professional Business Plan for their business.Westmeath County Enterprise Board is funded by the Irish Government and part funded by the European Union under the National Development Plan 2007 - 2013.Weblink: www.westmeath-enterprise.ie